Fork crown supported bicycle carrier
A vehicle mounted bicycle carrier for transporting non-standard bicycle frame types, such as full suspension mountain bikes. The carrier typically is mounted to the hitch structure of a vehicle and is comprised of a vertical support mast, with a top mounted horizontal bar, containing cradles for hanging bicycles from their fork crowns in a vertical position, providing independent access. The cradle design turns the fork and handlebars to a degree that prevents interference with an adjacent bicycle's handlebars, thereby allowing the closest possible spacing. Lower down on the vertical support mast is a horizontal bar for securing the bicycle rear wheels, preventing the bicycles from swinging freely on the cradles.
Not Applicable
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCHNot Applicable
SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAMNot Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle mountable bicycle carrier, particularly to a bicycle carrier that retains a bicycle in a vertical position for the convenient loading and unloading of standard and non-standard bicycle frame designs.
Bicycles are often transported between locations on carriers which attach to vehicles. In many cases, these carriers incorporate an arm or cradle that the top tube of a bicycle rests on or in, to support the bicycle. However, women's bicycles and many newer non-traditional frames, especially full suspension mountain bikes, do not have a top tube. As a result, these types of bicycles cannot be directly mounted on many carriers.
Several designs aim to overcome this problem. One such design places the bicycle on top of the vehicle by removing the front wheel and clamping to the exposed ends of the bicycle fork. Problems with this design include the hassle associated with removing the front wheel, and the need to store the wheel elsewhere. Also the bicycle needs to be lifted up high and placed on top of the vehicle. Another design incorporates a surrogate top tube, as described by Hilk in U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,523, Aug. 20, 2002, whereby a tube is attached to the handlebars and seat post of a bicycle and the bicycle and attached tube is then affixed to a bicycle carrier. This design requires the user to attach the device to the bicycle in two different places, and then to attach the device to the bicycle carrier, adding greatly to the amount of time needed to attach the bicycle to the vehicle. Other designs carry a bicycle behind a vehicle via cradles in which the bicycle wheels sit. This style of bicycle carrier is generally large, complicated, and cumbersome, especially for ones which carry a plurality of bicycles. Another common design of hitch mounted bicycle carrier simply stacks the bicycles on a fork or similar structure, requiring the removal of the outermost bicycles to access the innermost bicycles.
2. Objects and Advantages
Several objects and advantages of the present invention include:
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- a) to provide a vehicle mountable bicycle carrier capable of carrying any bicycle regardless of its frame design.
- b) to provide a vehicle mountable bicycle carrier which is easy to use.
- c) to provide a vehicle mountable bicycle carrier which carries one or more bicycles without the removal of any part of any bicycle.
- d) to provide a vehicle mountable bicycle carrier which carries a plurality of bicycles and does not require the removal of any bicycle to access another bicycle.
- e) to provide a vehicle mountable bicycle carrier which is not overly complex and cumbersome.
The present invention provides a vehicle hitch mountable bicycle carrier consisting of an upper bar containing cradles made up of paired V shaped tines, in which the crown of a bicycle fork fits. The bicycle hangs from its fork crown in a near vertical orientation, hooked by a cradle on the carrier's upper bar. Furthermore the cradles are orientated such that the bicycle's front wheel and handlebars are turned enough to facilitate the close proximity of another bicycle. The rear wheel is affixed to the carrier's lower bar by a hook or other device.
Referring to
As shown in
The reader will see that the bicycle carrier of this invention can be used to transport, by vehicle, any bicycle with a front fork, encompassing virtually all known bicycle designs. The carrier design allows the quick and convenient loading and unloading of bicycles, without the need to remove any bicycle to access another. Furthermore the design provides an efficient way to carry as many bicycles as possible, in as little space as possible, by turning the handlebars, thereby preventing interference.
Claims
1. A bicycle carrier for receiving a fork crown of a bicycle, the bicycle carrier comprising:
- a support mast;
- a hitch attachment bar extending generally perpendicular from the support mast;
- a first elongate support member extending generally perpendicular from the support mast;
- a second elongate support member connected to the support mast and extending substantially parallel to the first elongate support member;
- a cradle fixedly disposed along the first elongate support member, the cradle including four rods wherein each of the rods extends away from the first elongate support member and each of the rods has a free distal end, a first pair of the rods forming a first base structure from which the rods thereof further extend and a second pair of the rods forming a second base structure from which the rods thereof further extend, a first portion of the crown fork being received between the first pair of the rods and a second portion of the crown fork being received between the second pair of the rods; and
- means for securing a wheel of said bicycle to the bicycle carrier, said means being disposed along the second elongate support member.
2. A bicycle carrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein a first pair of the rods form a V-shaped base structure from which the rods thereof further extend.
3. A bicycle carrier as claimed in claim 2 wherein the rods extend parallel to each other from the V-shaped base structure.
4. A bicycle carrier as claimed in claim 2 wherein a second pair of the rods form a V-shaped base structure from which the rods thereof further extend.
5. A bicycle carrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first pair of the rods and second pair of the rods are spaced-apart from each other.
6. A bicycle carrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for securing the wheel of said bicycle to the bicycle carrier includes a J-hook.
7. A bicycle carrier as claimed in claim 1 further including an offset bar for connecting the second elongate support member to the support mast and offsetting the second elongate support member from the first elongate support member.
8. A bicycle carrier as claimed in claim 1 further including a plurality of cradles disposed along the first elongate support member and corresponding means for securing the wheel of said bicycle to the bicycle carrier disposed along the second elongate support member.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Feb 20, 2004
Date of Patent: Mar 8, 2011
Patent Publication Number: 20070119889
Inventor: Malcolm Thomas Hammond (North Vancouver)
Primary Examiner: Nathan J Newhouse
Assistant Examiner: Corey N Skurdal
Attorney: Cameron IP
Application Number: 10/782,174
International Classification: B60R 11/00 (20060101); B60R 9/00 (20060101);